Weatherproof electrical outlet



May 1961 s. l. SLATER 2'985'334 WEATHERPROOF ELECTRICAL OUTLET FiledNov. 21, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV ENT OR.

T SAUL SLATER United States Patent l WEATHERPROOF ELECTRICAL OUTLET SaulI. Slater, Westland Drive, Glen Cove, NY.

Filed Nov. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 775,410

10 Claims. (Cl. 220-443) The present invention relates to electricaloutlets and more particularly to a cover plate for such outlets whichmakes it possible to install outlets on the exterior of buildings, forexample, in a situation where the outlet is exposed to the weather andto close the outlet against moisture, etc. except for those periods whenthe outlet is in use.

In the past cover plates were provided for exten'orly mounted outletswhich cover plates had hinged thereto individual caps covering theindividual outlets. in some instances these caps were spring-urged 'totheir closed position. This arrangement, although satisfactory from theviewpoint that the outlet was sealed against ingress of moisture duringperiods of non-use, was unsatisfactory in that the outlet cap closedagainst the plug or the Wire fixed to that plug and movement of the wiretended to ab'r'ad'e the insulation. Additionally,of course, the coverhad to be moved toit s open position in order to remove the plug fromthe o utlet. I

Some attempts were made to overcome this problem and in at least oneinstance this was done by providing a shoulder on the outlet cap whichcooperated with a shoulder made integrally with the hinge support forthe cap in such manner that as the cap was moved into its open positionthe spring urged the cap in a sidewise direction causing the twoshoulders to engage, thus retaining the cap in its open position. Thisarrangement, however, was very costly to manufacture and notsatisfactory since frequently the user, not realizing that the cap mustbe moved sidewise to disengage the shoulder members mentioned in orderto release it for return to its closed position, closed the cover or capforcefully and as a result broke one or both of the shoulders.

In addition to the problems set forth above, in the past no weatherproofoutlet cover plate and cap has been available for use in connection withboth a standard outlet and a standard switch. In order that the outletcap be automatically self-closing in the event of failure of thespring-retaining means it is essential that the hinge on which the capis mounted extend horizontally. Moreover, frequently it isdesirable thatthe outlet or switch be mounted in an outlet box which is positionedwith its long dimension in a vertical plane. When this is done themounting strapon the outlet or switch, as the case may be, likewiseextends with its long dimension in a vertical direction. I

As will be readily seen, the fact that the hinge must extendhorizontally means that the hinge will -extend across the outlet orswitch mounting strap. As a practical matter the resultof this is thatthe tapped holes in the mounting strap which are utilized to hold theplate in position are not accessible since one of these holes liesdirectly under the hinge. The spring-retaining means of my presentinvention is formed in one embodiment thereof so that a verticallymounted switch or outlet may be permitting the use of standard switchesand outlets.

Patented May 23, 1961 My present invention provides a closure cap forexposed electrical outlets hingedly supported on a wall plate andprovided with a spring means so arranged as to hold the cap in either ofits adjusted positions, that is either open or closed as desired.Furthermore, my invention provides such a wall plate and outlet cap orclosure which is extremely simple in design and which is producedextremely economically.

It is an object of the invention to provide a closure means for sealingexposed electrical outlets against the weather which comprises a wallplate having a hinged cap or plate thereon together with resilient meansfor retaining the cap in one position until manually placed in the otherposition.

It is another object of the invention to provide such an outlet closuremeans consisting of a wall plate to which a cap is hinged, the hingebeing extremely simple in construction and readily assembled without thenecessity of adjusting a multitude of small parts.

'It is anotherobjec't of the invention to provide such a structure asdefined above wherein no special movement of the cap member is requiredin order to close it and where, therefore, the danger of breakage orimproper operation is eliminated. V I

It is another object of my invention to provide a weatherproof coverplate for a single outlet or switch so arranged that the plate mayreadily be mounted in the usual manner by passing a screw through theplate into the standard switch or outlet mounting strap having threadedopenings therein spaced apart a standard distaii'ce, the cap of themounting plate being hinged on 'a horizontal axis so that when 'in openposition the cap tends to shield the outlet or switch from rain or snowand 'so that if the spring fails the cap will drop-by gravity into itsclosed position.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent when thefollowing description is considered in connection with the annexeddrawings, in which,

Figure l is ai front elevational view of the cover plate of my inventionutilized with a duplex outlet;

Figure 2 is aside elevational view of the device of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the device, the viewbeing taken on the plane of the line 33 of Figure 1. In this view thecap is shown in its closed position; v e

Figure 4 isa view 'similar to that of Figure 3, but showing the ca'p'inits open position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detailed view showing the mode of hinging'thecap to'the plate;

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of a second embodimentofmyiinvention in which theJcap is hinged on a horizontal axis "on avertically extending cover plate intended of c'ourse'to be utilized witha vertically mounted outlet box; I i

Figure 7"is a rear elevation of the device of Figure 6;

,Figure 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the cover platejofFigures 6 and 7 utilized with a vertically extending outlet box and astandard switch moun'ted so that its operating handle moves in avertical plane; and

Figure 9 is'a side elevational view showing the weatherproof outlet boxcover of Figures 6-8.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of my priorapplication Serial No. 764,652, filed October 1, 1958 'for WeatherproofElectrical Outlet, 'now abandoned.

Referring 'now to' the drawings, there is shownatlll the usual wallplate which is made of metaland which, in this instance, hasprovidedthereon and made integral therewith, the upstanding ears -11,'each ofthese ears being bifurcated and forming the' seat for hinge pins'12which pins'ar'e' formed integrally with thebody of arespective cap 13.Although not necessarily so formed, it is preferable that the plate andthe cap 13 be diecastings incorporating respectively the ears 11 and thepins 12.

As seen particularly in Figures 3 and 4 the cap 13 is hollow and iscomprised of the central rib 14, the substantially circular closuremember proper 15 and the downwardly extending operating handle 16.Mounted in the cap 13 and specifically in the circular portion thereofis a rubber gasket member 17 which seats against an upturned generallycircular flange 19 formed on the plate 10 and prevents moisture fromentering into the outlet. It is to be noted that a rubber gasket memberis provided which has substantially the shape of the wall plate 10 andwhich is placed between the wall plate and the outlet box thus assuringthat moisture does not enter into the outlet box due to any openingbetween the box and the plate.

The portion 14 of cap 13 has a rearwardly extending flange 18 thereon.Mounted in any suitable manner, as by means of the rivet 20, on theplate 10 is a leaf spring 21 which extends upwardly, thence follows thebevel 22 on the edge of plate 10 and thence runs sharply forwardly andbears against the corner at which flange 18 meets rib portion 14 of cap13. This leaf spring thus exerts a pressure which tends to rotatethe cap13 in a counterclockwise direction about its hinge pins 12 as seen inFigure 3.

When cover 13 is raised it rotates in a clockwise direction about thepivot pin 12 and when the cover is fully open spring 21 bears againstthe flat surface of the portion 14 of the cover thus holding the coverin its open position.

Referring now to Figure 5, it will be seen that the upstanding ears 11are bifurcated as heretofore stated and terminate in the portions 11aand 11b. As shown in dotted lines these portions 11a and 11b extendperpendicularly of the surface of the plate 10, as the plate 10 isinitially made. In assembly, however, after the covers are placed withthe pins 12 extending between the bifurcations 11a and 11b, thebifurcations are moved in wardly by a simple punch press operation, thuscausing them to partially encircle the pins 12 and hold the coverpermanently but hingedly fixed to the plate 10. As will be seen, thisprovides an extremely simple structure from the viewpoint both of simpleparts and ease of assembly of these parts.

As stated hereinabove, in another form of my inven tion a cap is mountedon the long axis of the cover plate making it possible to utilize thecover plate with an outlet box mounted in the more common manner, thatis, with the long axis thereof extending in a vertical direc tion, thisarrangement being utilized when a single receptacle or switch,particularly the latter, is mounted in the outlet box.

In Figures 6 through 9 the arrangement of cover plate and cap for avertically mounted outlet box containing a switch is shown. In thesefigures the various portions of the device have been given the samereference characters as in the foregoing figures because theconstruction is generally similar.

Thus the cap 13 is again provided with the central rib 14 which, asbefore, extends upwardly forming a chamber in which the handle 28 of aswitch 27 (see Fig. 8) is positioned. Also, as in the foregoingconstruction, the central rib has side flanges with which the pins 12are made integral, these pins fitting into the bifurcations of the ears11 and thus providing for rotation of the cap about the axis establishedby the pins. Likewise the spring 21 is provided to exert pressure oneither the face of the portion 14 or the rearwardly extending flange ofthat portion to hold the cap respectively in the open and closedpositions. 7

The construction is modified by forming the spring 21 with a cutoutportion leaving the portions 21a and 21b to bear against the face of therib 14 or the flange 2,985,384 q p 7 f a 4 extending rearwardlytherefrom. Additionally, instead of fastening the spring 21 to the plate10 by means of a solid rivet such as shown at 20 in Figures 3 and 4,spring 21 is fastened to the plate 10 by use of a hollow rivet 25. Afurther modification is that the face and rear flange of the rib 14 arecut away in a semicircle as indicated at 24, Fig. 6, thus giving accessto the hollow rivet 25.

Figure 8 shows a switch 27 mounted in the normal manner to an outlet box30. As is usual, the switch 27 is mounted upon a strap 26 which strap isin turn provided with mounting ears at its ends which, by means ofscrews such as indicated at 33, mount the strap to ears formed on theoutlet box. Switch mounting straps such as shown at 26 are provided withtwo tapped holes spaced a standard distance apart to which a cover plateis fastened by means of screws such as those indicated at 34. As isreadily seen, the location of the upper one of these two mounting screws34 is such that were the old cover plate having a hinge pin mounted inupstanding ears on the plate utilized, it would be impossible to fastenthe cover plate 10 to the switch strap 26. Due to this fact,electricians have in the past found it necessary to utilize specialswitches and in many instances special single receptacles whenweatherproof covers and caps were desired.

In my present arrangement, as described above, a weatherproof coverplate has a cap fixed thereto hinged about a horizontal axis so that inthe event of failure of the retaining spring 21 the cap willnevertheless fall under the influence of gravity into the closedposition and will, when in the open position, form a partial shield forthe opening and prevent water from entering the outlet box. This coverplate thus satisfies the requirement of protecting the switch or outleteven when the cover is open and thereby assures that water will notenter the conduit which leads the wires to the outlet box.

Additionally, and of course most importantly, the construction describedprovides a weatherproof plate and cap for an outlet box which can beutilized with a standard switch or single outlet and which requires nospecial switch or outlet or any special drilling and tapping of theswitch mounting strap to permit fastening the cover plate thereupon. a

As shown in Figure 7 depressions are formed in the rear surface of theplate 10. These depressions designated 32 provide space for the heads ofthe mounting screws 33 by means of which the switch mounting strap 26 isfixed to the pins of the outlet box 30. As shown in the drawings, Fig.8, a rubber sheet gasket 31 is provided which seals against the forwardedges of the outlet box 30 to prevent moisture from entering that box.

As in the first described embodiment of the invention the bifurcatedears 11 are caused to partially encircle the pins 12 after the cover orcap has been assembled to the plate 10 thereby holding the coverpermanently but hingedly fixed to the plate 10.

Although the plate illustrated in the drawings of Figures 1 through 5 isintended for use with a duplex receptacle it will be understood that thearrangement of these figures may also be utilized for a singlereceptacle. It will further be understood that although in Figures 6through 8 a single plate is provided with a single cap 13 it may, insome instances, be desirable to provide a double size plate 10 for usewith a double outlet box and to have a pair of openings in that plateeach provided with a cap or cover 13.

While I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, it will beunderstood that many other modifications may be made without deviatingfrom the principles thereof; therefore I wish to be limited not by theforegoing description, but solely by the claims granted to me.

What is claimed is:

1. A weatherproof cover for an electrical outlet comprising, incombination, a wall plate, a generally circular opening in said plateadapted to register with a wiring device mounted in a box to which saidplate is fixed, a flange extending outwardly about said opening, a coverfor said opening, said cover being generally circular, a gasket mountedin said cover and adapted to seal against said outwardly extendingflange, a rib on said cover extending to one side of said opening, apair of outwardly extending rigid ears mounted on said wall plate andspaced apart thereon, said ears being bifurcated, rigid pins formedintegrally with said cover extension, said pins being on portions ofsaid extension perpendicular to said wall plate, said pins extendingparallel to said wall plate, said pins lying in said bifurcations ofsaid ears, said bifurcations extending around a major portion of thecircumference of corresponding pins thereby mounting said coverpermanently to said wall plate for pivotal movement with respect to saidwall plate, said cover extension extending beyond said ears and having aportion at the end thereof lying at a right angle to the plane of saidwall plate and to said portion of said extension on which said pins areformed, and a leaf spring fixed to said cover plate and bearing againstsaid extension adjacent said right angle to thereby maintain said coverin either its open or its closed position.

2. A weatherproof cover for an electrical outlet box comprising, incombination, a generally rectangular wall plate, an opening in saidplate adapted to register with an electrical wiring device mounted onthe box to which the plate is fixed, a cover for said opening, abifurcated extension on said cover, hinge pins on said extension, meanson said plate to receive said hinge pins to mount said cover on saidplate for pivotal movement from an open to a closed position, said pinreceiving means being spaced apart transversely of the longitudinal axisof said plate, resilient means comprising a bifurcated leaf spring forretaining said cover in either of said positions and means comprising arivet fixing said resilient means to said cover plate, said rivet lyingon the longitudinal center line of said cover plate and between saidspaced apart pin receiving means, said bifurcations of said springcooperating with respective bifurcations of said extension, said rivetbeing accessible through the opening between the bifurcations of saidextension and said leaf spring.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said rivet is hollowwhereby said wall plate may be fixed in position by means of a screwpassing through said hollow rivet and engaging the threaded hole in astandard wiring device mounting strap.

4. A weatherproof cover for an electrical outlet box and a wiring devicemounted therein comprising a wall plate, an opening in said plateadapted to register with the electrical wiring device in said box, aclosure for said opening, said closure comprising a tubular memberhaving a closed end including an upstanding hollow rib, said ribextending beyond said tubular portion at one side thereof, hinge pinsextending outwardly from the sides of said hollow rib, means on saidwall plate receiving said hinge pins to mount said closure for pivotalmovement from an open to a closed position, a cutout portion centrallyof the end of said hollow rib, a leaf spring having a substantiallyright angle bend therein, means mounting one end of said leaf spring onsaid wall plate between said hinge receiving means, and a bifurcation inthe portion of said spring extending substantially perpendicular to saidwall plate, said bifurcated ends bearing against the top or sides ofsaid hollow rib extension adjacent said cutout portion to hold saidclosure in either its open or its closed position.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said means for mountingsaid leaf spring comprises a hollow rivet.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said hollow rivet lies onthe longitudinal center line of said wall plate and registers with atapped hole in the standard mounting strap of a wiring device mounted inthe outlet box.

7. A weatherproof cover for an electrical outlet and the Wiring devicemounted therein comprising, in combination, a wall plate, an opening insaid plate adapted to register with an electrical wiring device, aclosure for said opening, said closure comprising a cover plateregistering with said opening, a rib on said cover plate extendingbeyond said plate at one side thereof, hinge pins extending outwardlyfrom the sides of said rib adjacent the extended end thereof, means onsaid wall plate receiving said hinge pins to mount said closure forpivotal movement from an open to a closed position, a cutout portioncentrally of the end of said rib, a leaf spring having a substantiallyright angled bend therein, means mounting one end of said leaf springparallel to and against said wall plate, between said hinge receivingmeans and a bifurcation in the portion of said spring extendingsubstantially perpendicular to said plate, the bifurcated ends bearingagainst the top or sides of said rib extension adjacent said cutoutportion to hold said closure in either its open or its closed position.

8. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means mounting saidspring comprises a hollow rivet.

9. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said pin receiving meanscomprises a pair of bifurcated ears fixed to said wall plate, said pinsbeing received between said bifurcations and wherein said bifurcationsare bent slightly inwardly to retain said hinge pins.

10. A device in accordance with claim 9 wherein said hollow rivet lieson a longitudinal center line of said plate and registers with thestandard tapped hole of a standard mounting strap on which a wiringdevice is mounted in the outlet box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS219,552 Wilson Sept. 9, 1879 1,131,093 Sperry Mar. 9, 1915 1,212,792Mantel Jan. 16, 1917 1,494,165 Hall May 13, 1924 1,815,319 Lawrence iJuly 21, 1931 2,037,172 Lelfert Apr. 14, 1936 2,404,558 Yellin July 23,1946 2,765,094 Ryan Oct. 2, 1956 2,867,345 Bellek Jan. 6, 1959

